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trumpet embouchure

This message was contributed by Angela Whelan on 18/7/04.
It was in reply to this message: trumpet embouchure
posted by Tom kelley on 17/7/04.

Tom, Tom, Tom!!!!!

So your embouchure looks different to everyone else's.......... ! First of let me just clear one thing up. Despite the fact that there are a number of books on the subject there really is no such thing as the textbook embouchure. There are a number of physical issues i.e. teeth formation, size of lips etc. that dictate how your embouchure will naturally lie and therefore everyone is different . Having said that, if you are experiencing problems with range/make a duff sound/are having stamina problems then perhaps your embouchure is not the best it could be. If you don't seem to be experiencing any of these problems then my advice to you is this.......... IF IT AIN'T BROKEN, DON'T TRY TO FIX IT!!!

If it worries you so much why not talk it over with your teacher or ask your parents to find a good pro trumpeter to visit for a second opinion? You say that you are in middle school, have your teeth completely settled down yet? Quite often some people reach a plateau in their development as a trumpeter. I taught a girl once who reached a plateau and regardless of how much practice she put in she just didn't seem to be getting any better. I realised that she didn't really have the sort of physical make up of a trumpeter and tentatively asked her if she would like to try trombone. I then passed her onto a trombone specialist and the last I heard she had passed grade 7 with distinction only 18 months after moving onto trombone.

I guess what I'm trying to say (in a rather longwinded way!) is the trumpet is a difficult instrument to play due to the size of the mouthpiece - it's just a bit too small for comfort!!!!